Gilbert h



titel tant GILBERT H.

cLsMnNs, or NEW YORK,4 N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 83,930, dated Noce/mbar 10, 1868.

IMPRovnD ELASTIG CALK Fon Boo'rs Nn saone The Schedule referred to intheseLetters Patent and making parl: of the um To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT H. OLnMnns, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful article of manufacture, tobe applied to the heelsof either boots or shoes, for the purpose ofpreventing persons, when Wearing them, from slipping when walking uponthe ice or snow; and I do declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, references being made to the Vaccompanying drawingsby gures and letters.

The prominent feature in my invention is in con-` structing anice-heel-calk, of elastic material, which I propose shall be made ofsoft rubber, being the most suitable substancernow in use. Y

The said ice-heel-calk is intended to be applied to the heels of eitherboots or shoes, and moulded or formed to iit the size and shape of anyheel, and,'when expanded sufiiciently, can be readily placed upon theheel, and, by the elastic 'compression of the rubber,

adhere firmly to its place, and, to a certain extent,` 'produce'avacuum, causing the sameto remain .very

firm upon `the heel, but, for additional security against a possibilityof the saidn heel-calli being thrown oil' the heel when 4in use, I haveattached a band to either side of the'said calli, which passes aroundthe instep of either boot or shoe.

The bottom surface of the elastic calk has a series of unbroken curvedcorrugations, but there may be square or oblong projections substitutedin place of the curved corrugations, The object in brming thecorrugations in the manner shown, in the place ci' making them checked,as they are applied to the bottoms of rubber shoes, is to produce agreater adhesion to the ice or snow by the flexible co1'rugations,whenpressed upon the ice or snow by the weight of the person Wear ing them,ei'ectually excluding the air, and forming a vacuum which will preventthe possibility Yof the foot slipping. v

For additional security against the person slipping when Walking uponice or snow, I have inserted, from the inside oi" the elastic calk, ametal calk, which is` concave on the bottom surface, and-when the weightof the person wearing the calli presses uponA onev of the calks, theelastic surface will be compressed sulciently to force the metal calkinto the ice, and thereby hold the foot securely against slipping.

These metal calks can be removed from the elastic calli, and beyreplaced by others, 'or may be dispensed With entirely, or may beconstructed in any other suitable form, or more than one may be used.

The elastic calli may also be secured to the heel of a boot or shoe byaconical-headed screw, passing through the said disk, and screwedinto theheel of the boot or shoe.

rlhe following references to the lettersv and iigures marked upon thedrawing will further explainmy invention:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of the boot or 1shoe,with theelastic calli attachedto the heel, and the red lines show the bandattached to said calk, 'and passing over the instep.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a boot or shoe, with the elastic calkattached.

Figure 3 is a side elevation; with the calk detached from the heel.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the elastic calk, showing the series ofcorrugations,.

A represents a boot, With the elastic calk B applied to it. C representsthe metal disk, provided with a flange at its' top face, while the lowerend is made concave.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A'rubber heel-calli, moulded or made to it on to `a boot orshoe-heel, in combination With the metallic disk C in the bottom of thesame, all as and for the purpose specified.

2. A rubber heel-calli, moulded or. made to t on toa boot or shoe-heel,in combination With a band or bands, strap or straps, to pass around theinstep of the boot or shoe, for thef'prpose of holding the heel-calli onthe heel oi the same, all as shown and described, and for the purposeset forth.

3. A rubber heel-calk, moulded or made to iit on to a boot or shoe-heel,the bottom of which is made With a series of corrugations, constructedsubstantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

speciiied. Y

GILBERT H. GLEMENS.

Witnesses O. O. Looms, N. W. HEILBORN.

The combination of a rubber heel-calli, made to

